Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-10
THE APPEAL FOR MERCY.


Most OF the interest in the anarchist cases was
transferred from Chicago to Springfield yesterday
The hearing or the arguments for mercy before the
governor was memorable occasion Capt Black,
in his argument to the governor, saia: Snow at
last we can produce the truth where ft will not be
refused; now we have chance to place IL In legal
form before the public and before the world and
before your excellency. You know, your excel
lency, the flood tide OF passion which flled the air
Ike subtle. poisonous ether. which hung around
the temple OF justice, which lowered over the
judges bench, which filled the jury room with It's
fatal vapor, and which filled even the heart OF the
states attorney In the case, though / wish to
make no charges against any man. NOW, your ex-
celency you SIT outside the pale OF public preju-
dice and passion; you SIT on the high seat repre-
Beside you sits mercy in her kindest mood, and
from your place you can set these things right
Without being touched by popular clamor; you can
pers mercy. II you grant this plea OF mercy 1t viii
be grand example OF the wisdom OF the frlmerS
Oh our iu u law which gave mercy In the
tice.r
Gen. Trumbuil followed Capt. Black and simply
resentative Of the Amnesty ASSOCIATION, was the
next speaker. She argued that public policy. Jus
tice, was opposed to capital punishment generally
wives mothers and children OF the condemned.
Hon. E NJ. Haines, OF waukegou, followed He
Of Justice and public policy. senator Streeter, OF
the legislative committee, was the next speaker.
TELLING POINT.
A telling point by the mercy-seekers was made
In the afternoon, almost at the very outset. VIM.
Urban, representing the Central Labor Union, OF
inent addressing the governor. The shooting OF
Begey by the PinkerJOn men at the stock yards
was instanced by Urban as a case where murder
was committed by member OF a well-knOwn Or
gan1Zati0n-the PlnkertOn aQency-in the employ
Oh another well-known OrganizatiOn-the Packers
unlonmand the controlling spirits OF the organiza-
divdual member. The plea seemingly interested the
governor strongly. lie seemed TO grow more and
more deeply impressed as the moments sped.
Gradually the friends OF the condemned became
more and more hopeful, as the demeanor OF the
governor plainly showed that the most thorough
Investigation, with the broadcast views and the
kndest OF hearts, would be given their arguments
and the petitions
Another point that created favorable impress
siOd was a coiloquy between Sam1 GOmpers, preSi-
dent OF the Federated Trades of the United states
and Canada, and Gov. Oglesby regarding the eight
ernor that the eight-hOur movement was entirely
peaceful, and that any attempt to bring about its
objects by force would be condemned by The work
lngmen Mr. Gompers continued: "Fhere Is no
doubt Whatever In the mind Of every one who
knows anything OF the labor movement that the
bomb that was thrown at the Haymarketk killed
the eight-hour movement"
ALL EYES ON THE GOVERNOR.
AT the conclusion OF the speech-making the
governor received the relatives of the condemned
anarchists, the audience being excluded As Gov.
Ogesby was about to step into his private office
Mrs Black stopped him. She was permitted To speak
rev sentences when the governor Interrupted
her with: Excuse me, madam but should like
10 take care or this case myself" The man In
whom all hopes are centered finally forced his way
out or the crowd In the reception rOOm and, after
he had reached the open air, walked along with
head erect toward the executive mansion, taking
the middle OF the street. IL was a memorable
sight, as the wives and friends Of the condemned
men stood In front OF the capitol and gazej with
tear stained eyes at the retreatng rgure.
The trunk containing the petitions was carried
Into the executive chamber by Mr.. Geo. Schilling
and Mr.. T. s. Oliver. Taking out large pile, Mr..
$4,000 people living in Chicago" The executive
an afidavit to that effect, and oliver
piled: at will be presented LATER"
SPIES WILLING TO BE SACRIFICE.
During the afternoon report was current in
Springfield that Spies brother would lay letter
before the governor from Spies last evening" 1t is
claimed that Mr. Grinnell said In his speech that II
Spies should be hung tomorrow the law would be
satisfied. In his letter Spies asked that the SEN
tence OF his comrades be commuted, and that he
Among the petitions presented TO the governor
yesterday afternoon was the following:
$50 HIS EXCELLENCY RICHARD j. OGLESBY-
Dear Sir: AS supplemental 10 the petition hereto
fore signed by me- desire TO say that realize that
many utteranceS or mine In connection with the
labor agitation OF the paSt-expressions made I'M
der intense excitement and often without any de-
tnjudictous and immature. These
regret, believing that they must have had a
to excite 10 unnecessary violence often
times / protest again That / had no thought or
purpose OF violence In connection with the Hay
market meeting. / did not attend, and have al
ways deplored the result OF that meeting. Re-
5pectfully, MICHAEL SCHwAB."
In Chicago yesterday all Thoughts were naturally
turned TO springfield, whittier nearly all the
friends and SympathiZers OF the anarchists had
gone. Much speculation was naturally INDUCED
In as to Improbable action OF the governor but
decision was expected until to-day.
SPIES THINKS HIMSELF A JOHN BROWN.
About the jail and in various parts OF the city
for the execution were quietly going
on. The condemned men themselves passed the
day In almost absolute quiet little before noon
cell. The anarchist wanted to talk Just to relieve
the horrible tedium. He talked earnestly and at
length. Mr.. Osborne said that Spies,
and the others, too, for that matter, had strong
hopes that the governor would intercede and pre-
vent the execution. Spies, Mr.. Osborne said, re-
garded himself as an apostle OF the poor and down.
trOdden. His position toward society, he thought,
was much like the one John Brown occupied in be-
half OF the negro slaves. Were he put to death,
coming generations would rise up and lament the
among the worlds martyrs Spies, Mt. Osborne
said, fully believes this
tanned the signatures Of Spies, Fielder, and
Schwa0 W petition for a witt OF habeas corpus
The grounds upon which the writ Is asked are that
was illegal In that IL said the Judgment" SHOULD
be affirmed, instead OF the Judgments" in each
case; also that the defendants should be in court
at the time the judgment OF the court was
rendered, and that at that time they were In the
Cook County jail The petition will be laid before
one OF the Jud .es OF the Criminal Court this morn
ing.
Inc American Alliance has implored Governor
Ogesby, In dispatch from San Francisco TO let
the law take its course.
At prayer meeting of Congregationalists in
Saratoga hast night, prayers were offered for the
anarchists; but the sentiment was expressed that
pity and mercy should not OvershadOw Justice
A petition 70 the governor OF Illinois, In behalf
or the CONDEMNED anarchists, Is receiving many
signatures In London Among the persons who
have signed are the Rev. StOpfOrd Brooke, Oscar
Wilde Stepniak, and Walter Besant.
ANARCHIST c0NsPIRAroRs HELD TO BAH.
Fred Horst and Emil wende were held in heavy
bail, In Chicago yesterday on charges OF conspir-
acy and carrying concealed weapons They were
members OF a regular anarchistic grOup which
voted TO purchase arms, and these two were de-
tailed To procure them.
Wisconsin, Infamy.
0FFICER5 OF THE LAW CLOSING THE VILE DKNs IN THE
WOODS AT LAST.
An Ishpeming, Mich, special to the New York
World says: Following close upon the exposures
comes the authoritative announcement from Wis
consin that Governor Rusk has decided to break
up the infamous traffic In women and girls which
has so long been a blemlsh the fair name OF the
The n dtho